The European Union is set next week to kickstart a rollback of landmark rules on artificial intelligence and data protection that face powerful pushback on both sides of the Atlantic.
Part of a bid to slash red tape for European businesses struggling against US and Chinese rivals, the move is drawing accusations that Brussels is putting competitiveness ahead of citizens鈥� privacy and protection.
Brussels denies that pressure from the US administration influenced its push to 鈥渟implify鈥� the bloc鈥檚 digital rules, which have drawn the wrath of President Donald Trump and American tech giants.
But the European Commission says it has heard the concerns of EU firms and wants to make it easier for them to access users鈥� data for AI development -- a move critics attack as a threat to privacy.
One planned change could unite many Europeans in relief however: the EU wants to get rid of those pesky cookie banners seeking users鈥� consent for tracking on websites.
According to EU officials and draft documents seen by AFP, which could change before the November 19 announcement, the European Commission will propose: a one-year pause in the implementation of parts of its AI law and overhauling its flagship data protection rules, which privacy defenders say will make it easier for US Big Tech to 鈥榮uck up Europeans鈥� personal data鈥�.
The bloc鈥檚 cornerstone General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enshrined users鈥� privacy from 2018 and influenced standards around the world.
The EU says it is only proposing technical changes to streamline the rules, but rights activists and EU lawmakers paint a different picture.
鈥楤iggest rollback鈥�
The EU executive proposes to narrow the definition of personal data, and allow companies to process such data to train AI models 鈥渇or purposes of a legitimate interest鈥�, a draft document shows.
Reaction to the leaks has been swift -- and strong.
鈥楿nless the European Commission changes course, this would be the biggest rollback of digital fundamental rights in EU history,鈥� 127 groups, including civil society organisations and trade unions, wrote in a letter on Thursday.
Online privacy activist Max Schrems warned the proposals 鈥榳ould be a massive downgrading of Europeans鈥� privacy鈥� if they stay the same.
An EU official told AFP that Brussels is also expected to propose a one-year delay on implementing many provisions on high-risk AI, for example, models that can pose dangers to safety, health or citizens鈥� fundamental rights.
Instead of taking effect next year, they would apply from 2027.
This move comes after heavy pressure from European businesses and US Big Tech.
Dozens of Europe鈥檚 biggest companies, including France鈥檚 Airbus and Germany鈥檚 Lufthansa and Mercedes-Benz, called for a pause in July on the AI law which they warn risks stifling innovation.
- More battles ahead -
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen faces a battle ahead as the changes will need the approval of both the EU parliament and member states.
Her conservative camp鈥檚 main coalition allies have raised the alarm, with the socialists saying they oppose any delay to the AI law, and the centrists warning they would stand firm against any changes that undermine privacy.
Noyb, a campaign group founded by Schrems, published a scathing takedown of the EU鈥檚 plans for the GDPR and what they entail.
The EU has pushed back against claims that Brussels will reduce privacy.
鈥業聽can聽confirm聽100 percent that the objective... is not to lower the high privacy standards we have for our citizens,鈥� EU spokesman for digital affairs, Thomas Regnier, said.
But there are fears that more changes to digital rules are on the way.
- Simplification, not deregulation -
The proposals are part of the EU executive鈥檚 so-called聽simplification packages to remove what they describe as administrative burdens.
Brussels rejects any influence from Trump -- despite sustained pressure since the first weeks of the new US administration, when vice president JD Vance railed against the 鈥榚xcessive regulation鈥� of AI.
This 鈥榮tarted聽before聽the聽mandate聽of聽the聽president聽of聽the聽US鈥�, chief commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said this week.
Calls for changes to AI and data rules have been growing louder in Europe.
A major report last year by Italian ex-premier Mario Draghi also warned that data rules could hamper European businesses鈥� AI innovation.